Professor Michael Moore BM, BS, MRCP, FRCGP

Professor of Primary Health Care Research

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Professor Michael Moore is Professor of Primary Health Care Research within Medicine at the University of Southampton. He is an academic GP with more than 25 years' experience as a partner in a Salisbury practice. His practice has been engaged in research since 1993 and is now actively contributing to NIHR clinical network research.

We are in danger entering the post antibiotic age - it is our responsibility to identify ways of protecting our current antibiotics for future generations

He is part of the School of Primary Care and Population Sciences based within the Faculty of Medicine.

His research interests include the optimal management of acute minor illness with a focus on antibiotic sparing strategies. He was the RCGP National Clinical Champion for Antimicrobial Stewardship 2012-15 and currently serves on the government advisory board for antibiotics (ARHAI). He is a member of NAMRIP, the University’s Network for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention strategic research group.

Other research interests include depression management, obesity, alcohol and liver disease.

Affiliate Department(s)

Research project(s)

Infectious diseases are a major threat to human wellbeing and economic and social development. Influenza, a highly contagious virus, causes a common respiratory infection with local and systemic symptoms.

Many patients in primary care are being prescribed antibiotics to treat mild infections such as colds, earaches and sore throats. Many of these are viral rather than bacterial infections that get better on their own and which can be treated with self-care (such as rest, fluids and mild pain killers).

We are looking to investigate the usefulness of antibiotics in this age group, it follows a European wide trial that was very similar for adults. Children will be provided antibiotic or placebo and keep a symptom diary for up to 28 days. They can opt to provide a throat swab, a blood sample and have a chest x-ray.

Although effective medicinal treatment exists for asthma, many people continue to have distressing symptoms and impaired quality of life. People with asthma have expressed interest in non-drug asthma treatments, particularly in breathing exercises. Several recent studies have shown benefits from a short course of breathing exercises taught by a respiratory physiotherapist for people with asthma who remained symptomatic despite usual treatment. We believe that many NHS patients could potentially benefit from these exercises, but unfortunately, there is currently not enough access to suitable trained physiotherapists able to provide such a service. We propose to provide the same breathing training programme that we have previously shown to be effective when taught 'face-to-face' by a physiotherapist in the form of a DVD, or internet download. Patients will use this in their own home at times convenient to them, in addition to their standard treatment (e.g. with inhalers). We will find out whether this type of instruction is better than the 'usual care' that is currently provided, and whether it is as good as the 'face to face' physiotherapist instruction (which is more expensive and less convenient for patients).

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (RUTIs), where patients experience more than three UTI episodes in a year, or two in 6 months, are common among women, affecting up to 800000 women in the UK annually.

Acute chest infections are common and antibiotics are often prescribed despite them having limited impact on the symptoms. Finding a safe and effective way to control the symptoms associated with a chest infection, particularly cough, could help reduce antibiotic use.

This is an update of an existing Cochrane systematic review of oral herbal medicines for osteoarthritis; focusing specifically on Rosa Canina fruit. The Cochrane review aims to evaluate the benefits and harms of R. Canina fruit for symptoms of osteoarthritis in adults.

Acute sinus infections are one of the commonest infections managed in primary care, Currently GPs prescribe antibiotics to most patients presenting with sinusitis, the highest of any of the common acute infections presenting in adults, at over 90%.